Hyderabad: Three people were killed in mishaps during rain on Saturday night. Two persons were electrocuted while one drowned in the Sewerage Board’s under-construction manhole at Madhapur.
In the first mishap, 52- year-old A. Raghuram was trying to find a shelter to escape from the rain when his body came into contact with a cable which had snapped from an electric pole at Ameerpet. He died on the spot.
In the second incident, a Nepal native identified as 35-year-old Faouzi, who was on his way to have his dinner, died when his leg touched a waterlogged sidewalk where an exposed electricity cable had fallen. He also died on the spot.
In the third incident, at Madhapur, Moti Yadav, 24, a tea maker from Jharkhand, fell into an exposed manhole filled with water at Ayyappa Society. His body was fished out later.
Reacting to the first two mishaps, Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) officials said that the street light poles were not managed by them and the GHMC is responsible for maintaining the street pole wiring. Meanwhile, GHMC officials said that the poles and cables were not damaged. The two incidents occurred because of the heavy rain.
According to SR Nagar police, one of the victims, Raghuram, an employee at a fertilizer company at Kundanbagh, collapsed after an electricity cable snapped and fell on him. “He was trying to put his money in a plastic cover as it was raining. Eyewitnesses said there were sparks as the cable fell,” said SR Nagar Inspector Md Waheeduddin.
Police officials added that once the autopsy report comes, a case might be booked for negligence against people concerned. The FIR however stated it was a case of suspicious death.
Madhapur police, who are investigating the death of Mothi Yadav, revealed that the Sewerage Board had not covered the manhole at Ayyappa Society even though the area was commonly used by pedestrians.
“The Sewerage Board had not put up a warning board or any kind of sign to warn pedestrians,” said a police official from Madhapur police station.
“Construction of new pipeline has been underway, and the manhole was exposed and filled with water due to rain. The victim, who had not noticed it, fell into it and drowned,” said R. Kalinga Rao, Inspector, Madhapur.
Madhapur police said they have begun inquiring into the Sewerage Board’s negligence.
